TWO BROWNS CHARGED IN DRUG CASES

CLEVELAND -- Browns fullback Mike Sellers was charged Tuesday with felony
cocaine possession, and two of his Cleveland teammates were also charged
with felonies following their arrests in separate cases in two cities.

Sellers and cornerback Lamar Chapman, who was charged with felony drug
abuse for marijuana, were arrested Monday night following a traffic stop in
Cleveland.

Just a few hours later in Pittsburgh, top draft pick Gerard Warren was also
arrested on a charge of carrying an unlicensed firearm -- a felony in
Pennsylvania.

According to a filing in Cleveland courts, the charge against Sellers is
"based upon presumption." A court clerk said that lab results were still
pending.

A dollar bill containing a white powder suspected of being cocaine was
found in a patrol car after Sellers and Chapman were taken to the police
station, the police report said.

Warren, a rookie defensive tackle who earlier this season was fined $35,000
by the NFL for a vicious hit on Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell, was
arraigned Tuesday and released after posting bond.

Warren is due in court on Nov. 30.

Police were questioning a passenger, identified as Percy Blue, for
suspected drug use in Warren's Chevy Suburban parked outside a Pittsburgh
nightclub at 2:35 a.m. when they spotted an empty gun holster.

According to the police report, Blue told officers he had a .45 Glock
handgun locked inside a console in the vehicle. After towing and searching
the vehicle, police found the gun, which belonged to Warren.

Warren said his brother, Corey, a Florida policeman, had bought the gun for
him and he produced documents showing ownership. However, Warren said he
had not yet obtained a license to carry it.

Browns tight end O.J. Santiago told police he was a passenger in Warren's
SUV before entering the club. There were also three unidentified female
passengers in the vehicle.

The Browns, who earlier in the day released a statement on the arrests of
Sellers and Chapman, did not make specific comments on Warren's arrest.

Sellers and Chapman are also facing a list of misdemeanor charges,
including using a vehicle to solicit drugs, drug abuse of marijuana and
numerous traffic violations.

They are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.

Sellers was speeding and swerving in his pickup truck when police pulled
him over Monday night. Officers found two bags of marijuana in the glove
box and a "folded" dollar bill containing a white powder was found on the
backseat of a patrol car after the players were taken to the police
station, the police report said.

Browns president Carmen Policy said the club was investigating the arrests.

"We are in communication with the National Football League and fully
support all league guidelines and policies," Policy said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello had no comment.

Sellers' truck and another vehicle were pulled over at 10:35 p.m. Monday on
the city's west side, according to police reports.

Officers said they smelled marijuana and noticed "several clumps" of the
substance on the driver-side floor. Chapman, who was in the passenger's
seat, was seen putting what later was determined to be a marijuana
cigarette into a soda can, police said.

Police said in addition to the marijuana in Sellers' glove compartment,
"three burnt marijuana blunt cigars" were in the ashtray.

Sellers refused to submit to a urine test at the jail, police said.

Sellers' agent, Kenneth Austin, said he spoke with his client on Tuesday
morning and that Sellers was apologetic and remorseful.

Also, Austin has problems with the police report.

"It just doesn't add up," Austin said. "There is a lot of speculation,
especially with the cocaine. The handcuffs were so tight, Mike has bruises
on his wrists. His hands were behind his back. How could he reach his front
pocket and pull out a dollar bill."

Sellers signed as a free agent with Cleveland in March after spending three
seasons with Washington. He was expected to play a more prominent role in
the Browns' offense, but has caught just seven passes for 73 yards this season.

Chapman, a fifth-round draft pick last year, is out for the season after
being placed on injured reserve.

If convicted, the players will be subject to the NFL's mandatory
drug-and-alcohol program. First-time offenders are tested randomly.

The arrests of Sellers and Chapman follow drug-related issues involving two
other Browns players, one of whom is no longer with the team.

In Tuesday's Plain Dealer, running back Ben Gay revealed a year ago he was
dealing drugs after dropping out of a junior college in Kansas. On Monday,
Jeremiah Pharms, a 2001 draft pick who was released from the Browns,
entered a modified guilty plea in Seattle on charges he robbed a marijuana
dealer last year.